Automatic collapsing and reerecting trolley-pole.



PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

- G. s THOMSON. AUTOMATIC GOLLAPSING AND RBEREGTIWG TROLLEY POLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 15 97.

U T TES PAT NT-tam GEORGE suntan 'rnons'ox,or DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND- i AUTOMATIC COLLAPSfNG AND REDRECTING TROLLEY-IPDLE.

No. 895,314. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed November 29, 1907.' Serial 110(464355.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ordinary sections in ri id relation, and a tripping de- 85 i trolley pole with my invented gear in posivice mounted separately from the pole em- I tion, the whole at the usual working angle bodying a link connected at one end to a 5) and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the joint if fixed lvot and cooperating at its op osite i collapsed. end with said catch to move the latter ongi- A is the lower and A the upper part of the tudinally of the pole and permit relative piv- 90 hinged pole. otal movement of the sections when the pole A is the usual socket-and cant-sliver on the assumes a predetermined osition. i

car. 3. A pivotally mounted troiley pole coln- B is the 'joint and B the strengthening prising 11 per and lower sections pivotally sheath. connected a ri id portion on one section ex- 95 40 B is a rest or buffer to catch the pole as it tending beyond the pivotal connection and i falls. overlapping the other section, a catch cm- C is a sliding ferrule sliding over the point bodying a-sleeve surrounding and slidable on of B keeping the pole normally rigid, it is one section and arranged to overlap the said I kept from falling by a light spring and adrigid portion of the other dpole to lock the sec- 100 1 justable ferrule C. tions in rigid relation, an a device controlled D is a double rod with slots which removes by the swinging movements of the pole for C from B when the pole becomes too npsliding the catch to unlock the sections. right but otherwise allows it complete free- 4. A trolley pole mounted for swinging dom. This is adjustable as to tripping angle movement and comprising pivotally con- 105 by the holes at D and is bent over to the nected u per and lower sections, one of'the other side of the pole at D. sections raving a semi tubular extension E is the recrecting cord preferably the userigid thereon and overlappirng the other seeless end of the usua cord E. In rerecting tion, a catch embodying a sleeve surrounding when E is pulled the pole A is brought in one section and slidable over the extension of 110 T 0 all whom it'ma-y concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE Starter. THOMSON, a public accountant, a subject of specification.

The object of this invention is to cause the upper portion of an ordinary trolley pole, used in electric vehicles, to collapse, so that the whole becomes lower than any of the overhead gear or cables, if the usual trolley wheel happens to leave the said electric cable, which action causes the pole to become upright when it is liable to cause damage to said overhead ear. For this purpose I cut an ordinary pol o sufiiciently low to be lower than the cable when upright, and make a lush joint strengthening the pole by a long sheathwhich keeps the pole ri id when working,andhelps in rerection. T 18, whole is arranged to collapse when the pole becomes too upright but to be rigid at other times.

Referring to the accompanying drawing line with A and then the continued action i bends the whole till C rises over the point of B. Then either cord E or B may be used to replace the wheel'under the cable in the usual way.

In this invention any suitable materia s or sizes may be ado )ted. 1,

Havin descri ed my invention what I claim and desire to secure by a patent ofth United States of America, is:

prising pivotally connected upper and lowe i sections, a catch for retaining the said sections in rigid relation, and a tripping device embodying a link having one end mounted on a fixed pivot separate from the pole and having its o posite end arranged to cooperate with sai catch and capable of a limited relative movement to release the sections when the pole assumes a predetermined position.

2. A swinging trolley pole comprising pivotally connected sections, a catch slidable longitudinally of the pole for retaining said the other section to lock the sections in rigid 1. A movably mounted trolley pole com the King of Great Britain, and resident of E is a rubber block fastened at a suitable i 5 the city of Dunedin, in the British Dominion point on the recrecting cord E and E a di of New Zealand, and whose post-oflice ad- 'recting pulley, the block being arranged to dress is Dunedin, have invented new and strike the pulley E as a butter as the upper useful Automatic Collapsing and Re'eirecting pole section approaches a horizontal position 'lnblley-Poles, of which the following is a and thereby lessens thejar of the falling ole.

swin in movements of the pole for sliding 'ating with the catch to control its eration the sleeve to unlock the sections.

; A trolley pole mounted-for swinging movement and comprising upper and lower and lower sections, a catch for locking theivotally'connected sections, a catch for retaining said sections in rigid relation, and a tri )ping device mounted separately from the pole and having a slidable connection for permitt-ing a limited movement between it and said catch, the tripping device being controlled by the swinging movements of the pole for releasing the catchwhen the pole ass'umes a predetermined angular fposit-ion.

6. A trolley pole mounted or swinging movement and comprising pivotally connected upper and lower sections, a catch slidable longitudinally of the pole for locking the sections in rigid relation, and a device mounted on a relatively fixed pivot and having its opposite end attached to and capable of a linnted movement relatively to said catch to move the latter longitudinally of the pole as the latter alters its angular position.

7. The combination of a trolley stand, a pole mounted for swinging movement thereon and comprising pivotally connected upper sections in rigid relation, a triplping device embodying a link having one en pivoted on the stand and its other end slidingly cooperpivoted at its during the swinging movement of tie pole, an extension being provided on the upper section which overlaps a portion of the lower section and cooperates with said catch, a pullev secured to the stand, and a reerecting cdrd attached to the lower end of said extension and cooperating with said pulley.

S. The combination with a trolley stand, a pole mounted for swinging movement thereon comprising pivotally connected upper and lower sections, the upper section having a rigid extension thereon overlap ing the lower section, a sleeve movable longitudi nally on the lower section and arranged to cooperate with said extension to lock the sections in ri id relation, a spring normally acting on said sleeve to move it into locking position, and a tri ping device embodying a rod lbwer end to said stand and aving a pin and slot connection with said sleeve for controlling the latter according to the angular movements of the pole.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE SAMUEL THOMSON.

Witnesses:

HENTON MACAULAY DAVEY, FREDERICK RANDALL DUNSFORD. 

